Guwahati, Mar 13 (PTI) Assam Government has proposed
an insurance scheme for journalists and their families in the
budget for 2018-19.

Presenting the budget in the assembly yesterday, Assam
Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "I have earmarked a
budgetary allocation of Rs 63 crore in 2018-19 for the
(Information and Public Relations) Department (that would
implement schemes for journalists).

The New Journalist Insurance Scheme would ensure
security and protection of the journalists and their families,
he said.

The minister said he has made necessary provision for
media fellowship for pursuing higher studies in journalism so
that 20 media persons can be selected for it at the rate of Rs
50,000 each.

"As a token of appreciation of the work being done by
the Media Trust, I propose to give a one-time grant of Rs 10
lakh to the Trust," he had said.

The government has also extended one time ex-gratia
of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of 31 journalists of the
state who have lost their lives or have been declared missing
while on duty, Sarma said.

"Further, as promised in my speech last year, the
Pension Scheme for Journalists has been introduced to provide
retirement benefits to journalists working for more than 20
years in Assam. We have already distributed individual
pensions of Rs 8000 per month to many respected journalists,"
he said.